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Andrei Kirilenko and Russia Headed to the Olympics

** Russia first defeated Korea (91-56) and then the Dominican Republic (84-69) in group play to move on to the quarterfinals, where they beat Angola (80-65). In the semifinals, Russia beat Nigeria (85-77) to make it to the finals. As both finalists and the third place finisher all qualify for the Olympics, there was no actual final game.

** AK led Russia in points, field goals made (tied), free throws made and attempted, offensive/defensive/total rebounds, steals, and blocks (tied). He was second in minutes played and assists.

** The qualifiers were held in Caracas. All 12 teams stayed at the same hotel, and players weren’t allowed to leave the hotel. The team had an armed police escort when they traveled between the hotel and arena. Practices were held at a military base.

** Before tip-off of Russia vs. the Dominican Republic, Francisco Garcia told AK that he’d be a good fit in Sacramento with the Kings.

** London 2012 will be AK’s third Olympics, following Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008. Russia didn’t qualify in 2004.

** Half (6/12) of Team Russia comes from the same club team (CSKA Moscow). The six CSKA players accounted for 63 percent of Russia’s points, 67 percent of Russia’s rebounds, 73 percent of Russia’s assists, 72 percent of Russia’s steals, and 64 percent of Russia’s minutes.

** Russia tallied assists on 100 of its 119 field goals in the tournament. Love that.

** Russia never trailed in its final game. In the entire tournament (160 minutes), Russia trailed for a total of 174 seconds.

C’s reaction to the breaking news that is the goatee: “Does it look silly with his hair?”

Related

Come on, it’s not like Venezuela has ever had a memorable footbal team! Actually, Venezuela never played in the World Cup!

Russian moment: in russian, Kirilenko is pronounced Kirilenka and AK never made the US media say it correctly? I heard that whenever an o is not in the tonic sylab of a word, it’s pronounced as an a in russian, and this looks like it.